News

In the news - Aston prove a YouTube smash hit

28 February 2011

Classical music group Aston has become a YouTube sensation with its cover version of Lady Gaga's song 'Telephone' attracting more than one million hits in just 10 months.

Aged 23 and 24, the six band members are Con alumni Eliza Morrison and Michael Bennett on violin, Hanna Oblikov on cello, Ella Jamieson on piano, Will Henderson on guitar and Daniel Luscombe on arrangements and percussion.

According to online publication Get Living, the band's popularity skyrocketed after a mention from celebrity blogger Perez Hilton.

That led to a contract with Warner Music, the release of Aston's first studio album in November, 30,000 plus subscribers to the band's website and thousands of followers on Facebook and Twitter.

Daniel Luscombe told Get Living: "There are lots of artists on YouTube who'll do a piano version of a song, or a guitar version, but we are the only classical group to be doing it at a high standard."

Apart from 'Telephone', Aston has also recorded rearranged versions of Coldplay's 'Viva La Vida', Rhianna's 'Rude Boy' and Kylie Minogue's 'Confide in Me'.

Daniel said that although the band was concentrating on its online audience, its videos had also featured on the Ovation Channel on Foxtel and C Music TV. Plans for a national and international tour later in the year are also being finalised.